Knockdown container



April 2, 1929.

W. D. WILKES xuocxnown CONTAINER Filed Oct. 27, 1926 INVENTOR Willim D.TViIkes,

Patented Apr. 2, 1929.

. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM D. WILKES, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

KN OCKDOWN CONTAINER.

7 Application filed October 27,1926. Serial No. 144,498.

The main object of my invention is to provide a compact, reliableconstruction which can be economically made and readily assembled.

Another object is to provide a construction which can be knocked down,returned and re-used. Such constructions are not only compact andreadily shipped in a knocked down condition at a minimum of expense butalso conserve the materials of which the container is made, since thecontainer is durable and can be used over and over again even withordinary handling.

The invention contemplates the use of parallel staves which are securedtogether by means of bands orstays in the form of a mat. These bands arenot'only nailed or riveted to the staves but are actually interlockedwith the staves by being set into grooves in the outer surface so thatthe staves cannot move lengthwise. The sides of the staves whichconstitute the inside of the container are grooved to receive the headsand the entire container, when assembled, is held together andreinforced by external hoops in addition to the bands.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown two forms of containers but itshould be understood that the proportions and sizes may be varied tosuit the requirements of the trade.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of what would ordinarily be termed a barrelin its assembled condition but without the head.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the container in its knocked down ormat-like condition.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a fragment of one of thestaves showing the nail before clinching.

Fig. 4 is a similar view of the opposite end of the stave with a headand band in place and the nail clinched or riveted over.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional View showing a plurality of staves laidout flat'and with a fragment of the head in place in one of the stavesin the position the parts would occupy when starting to assemble thecontainer.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the form.of container commonly termed acheese box.

Each stave 7 is preferably made of a flat strip of wood of any suitablecharacter. One edge as at 8 is preferably cut at right angles to theouter and inner surface and the other edge as at 9 is bevelled so thatwhen the staves are assembled with the bevelled and right angled edgestogether, the joints are tight inside and out. The angle of the bevelwill depend upon the size of the head 10. Each stave is also providedwith a groove 11 to accommodate the edge of the head. This groove ispreferably concave on an arc corresponding to the circumference of thehead.

Each stave is also grooved on the outside at 12 and 13 preferably nearerthe center of the stave than the head grooves. These grooves 12 and 13are of substantially the same depth and width as the thickness and widthof the bands 14 and 15 so that the bands fit in these shallow groovesand their outer surfaces are substantially flush with the outer surfacesof the staves. The bands are secured in place by one or more nails orrivets such as 16 which are driven through and upset, clinched or headedat 17 on the inside. Preferably two nails are driven through each bandinto each stave so as to more securely hold the parts together andprevent distortion of the mat.

The staves and bands are assembled in the process of manufacture andshipped flat in the form shown in Fig. 2. The user assembles the mats onthe bottom head and a hoop 18 is applied around the outer Wall of thecontainer adjacent the bottom head. This hoop is usually applied bymeans of some suitable form of apparatus by which the hoop is pulled upvery tight and then secured in place. When the container is filled theupper head is inserted in the usual manner and another hoop 19 appliedaround the outer wall of the container adjacent the upper head in theusual manner. After the container has been assembled an additional hoop20 may be applied around the middle if desired. After the container hasbeen emptied the hoops can be removed, the heads taken out and the bodyof the container spread out into mat-like form for return orre-shipment.

The interlocking connection between the bands 14 and 15 and the stavesgives much greater security to the container in that it practicallymakes it impossible to loosen the staves by endwise displacement. Thisinterlocking relation also holds the parts more securely when in thespread out or mat condi- I claim;

A knock-down container eon prisin ga se ries of fiat staves, each stavehaving aconcave groove in its inner face near each end to receive theedges of the heads, and grooves of uniform depth in the outer sides ofsaid staves near the first mentioned grooves and bands in said outergroo vessecured toand interlocked with said staves, two nails securingeach hand to each stave initsoutergroove, the 10 outer faeesof the handsihei ngsuhstantially flush with the outer faces of the staves and themeeting edges of the staves being longitudinally uninterrupted andadapted to be drawn ti ;htly together when the staves are assem bled onthe heads and additional hoops sur- .ro1 1 nding the staves adjacent theheads.

WILLIAM D. VILKES.

